Presenting...

Our first tooth!

Colin's first pearly white made an appearance on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 after while we were at Campbell & Audrey's petting zoo party (pictures of the party to come). Yeah for Colin. Now, please don't bite Mommy!

Craft of the Week Project - Week 2

Sarah over at Plainsong had an absolutely brilliant idea a few weeks ago. She has organized a Craft of the Week Club. The basic premise is that each week a new person comes up with a craft project that even the craft-challenged can complete. The goal is to use items that are already in our homes, or at least readily available. Mary M was our first hostess, and I am in charge of week 2.

In honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration, I decided to come up with a craft project that highlights this glorious moment in Christ's life. We will be making picture snow globes.

First, take an empty baby food jar or other clear container with a lid - obviously clean it out!Next, you want to paint the lid. I used the kids paint, but I'm sure you can use the ever flexible Sharpie in a pinch.And then I added a little touch to the top using the aforementioned Sharpie.
You will need to find a picture of the transfiguration and print off 2 copies of it. I printed a 2x2 print - but ended up needing to trim it down a touch to fit in the jar.
After you cut out the pictures, you will want to tape them together -make sure that they are both right side up.Next you will want to protect the picture as it is going to be floating in liquid. I used clear packing tape. Lay picture down on the tape, and then lay another piece of tape on top of the picture. Make sure that you leave about a 1/4" lip of tape so that the liquid won't get in.Insert the "laminated" picture into the container.Here are the supplies I used to finish off the picture snow globe. You will need to fill the jar with baby oil/mineral oil as well as glitter. I also added some cross embellishments I found in the scrapbooking aisle at Harris Teeter.

Put your lid on. You might want to put some crazy glue or hot glue gun the lid onto the jar so there's no spillage. It's that easy! The picture doesn't do it justice, but my boys really enjoyed making this and listened very intently as I explained the story of the Transfiguration to them. Have fun!

Welcome to the family!

Kelsey Summer arrived this morning at 11:04 am. She weighs 9 lbs. 14 oz and is 20 inches long. Did I mention that she only weighs about 3 lbs. less than her 8 month old cousin, Colin??

She came out sporting a full head of beautiful black locks - so much hair that they are already having to comb it! Lori is feeling well, and is still in a bit of disbelief that she's a mom. It will hit, oh, around 3 am when Kelsey is ready to eat!

Welcome to the world little Kelsey, and welcome to our family. We are so glad you are here.

Montessori Soup

After completing a year in CGS, Brian really thrived. So I thought it would be a good idea to recreate some of the "work" that he did at church school here at the house. My enthusiasm led to the following shelf...
I was so proud of how I put everything together so neatly. I even spent time showing both boys how to do their work.



So imagine my horror surprise when I came home from Mass on Sunday to find Brian and Sean "making" birthday cakes with all of the various beans and rice! Here's where my perfectly laid out work ended up...
And my personal favorite...


After discussing this with a very wise woman I know, I'm in a bit of a quandary...the boys didn't use the work the way it was supposed to be used, but darn if they weren't awfully creative. At what point do we draw the line of discipline versus creativity? If you have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

S-A-T-UR-DAY-Night!

Okay, so it wasn't a dance party, but we did have a good time. Saturday afternoon was the annual block party for our street. We share an alleyway with the street behind us, and most afternoons when the weather is nice you'll find children running around, riding their bikes, and just generally having a good ole' time out in the alley while their parents hang around and watch the frivolity.

However, at the end of the summer we have a scheduled, planned out block party. Everyone brings their own food to grill, and a dish to share - be it chips and dip, a salad or dessert. You can also bring an adult beverage or two. Since my sweat was sweating, I decided that water was a better option for me this year!


Every year, the local volunteer fire department comes to our party - fully equipped with a "real" fire truck and ambulance! The kids love it! Last year they let all of the kids take a turn shooting the water out of the hose.

There are always tours of the fire truck.

A future firefighter, perhaps?

This year, one of the firefighters brought all of the kids down to the end of the alley next to the ambulance because he had an "important job" that he needed help with. As soon as they were all gathered, the firefighter perched atop the fire truck opened the hose and drenched the kids!

It was hysterical to watch them frolicking in the water.

We will very much miss this neighborhood when we move.